Georgian Foreign Minister: sovereignty represents the only firm foundation upon which future of Europe must be built

At the first meeting of the Assembly held in Budapest under the framework of Patriots for Europe, the minister for foreign affairs of Georgia Maka Botchorishvili participated in a panel discussion on issues of sovereignty and migration, where she placed particular emphasis on the protection of national interests.

“I represent a country that, as you noted, is not yet a member of the European Union, but aspires to join it. For centuries, Georgia has aspired for the European family, and for the last decades it has sought membership in the European Union. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia regards European structures - particularly the European Union - as the most effective guarantor for its sovereignty It is for precisely this reason that we submitted an application for European Union membership and that we concluded the Association Agreement with the EU in 2014. Georgia is a country that shares European values - values that are intrinsic to our society”, Botchorishvili said.

The minister also addressed the challenges associated with the process of accession to the European Union.

“Unfortunately, after applying for EU membership, we have seen that this very important topic - which is crucial for Georgia and for around 80% of Georgians - has been turned into a tool for pressure and internal political games, and for foreign influence and interference into domestic affairs, which should be not acceptable for any state”, she noted.

While addressing security issues, the minister emphasised that sovereign decision-making is of vital importance for maintaining peace and ensuring stability in the country, particularly against the backdrop of prevailing regional challenges.

“When it comes to security, making sovereign decisions is crucial for ensuring peace, stability, and also economic growth in the country. Georgia’s annual economic growth stands at approximately 9.5%, an impressive figure in the European context. Achieving such results is possible only in one way - we must safeguard our country’s sovereignty and must not jeopardize peace in this complex geopolitical environment”, Botchorishvili continued.

In conclusion, Botchorishvili once again underscored the importance of sovereignty.

“We must approach the protection of sovereignty with utmost seriousness, as it represents the only firm foundation upon which the future of Europe must be built”, she concluded.